One of the key factors in Italian unification was the overthrow in 1860 of Francesco, the King of Naples and the two Sicilies, who went into elegant but impoverished exile in Rome with his ... See full summary »

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One of the key factors in Italian unification was the overthrow in 1860 of Francesco, the King of Naples and the two Sicilies, who went into elegant but impoverished exile in Rome with his queen Maria Sofia. This serio-comic drama follows the deposed king and his queen as they adapt to their new lives. The former king has recognized the political finality of his deposition, but his queen has taken to traveling in men's clothing all over Italy trying to foment an uprising to restore them to the throne. Not only that, but she is frantic to have a baby and heir, but the king has become celibate as a kind of homage to his beloved mother. He is spending all his time lobbying the Vatican to get her declared a saint. Written by
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I've been a big fan of Giancarlo Giannini ever since I first saw him in the original "Swept Away" (a movie Madonna later murdered). He is quite possibly one of the greatest actors Italy has produced in the last 50 years. In this movie, he plays the very gentle last King of the Two Sicilies, who seems resigned to his exile. His wife, played by one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, is not so content, and devotes a lot of her time to forming plots to get them back on their former throne. Running in the background to the main story, are their obsessions with the heir that was never born, a political mistake, according to her, while he's convinced it's haunting him.

It plays a little like a period movie, but has more heart and character than most, and sometimes feels like we're getting an intimate look at these historical people in a soap opera kind of way. All in all, a great movie for those who love period movies, Italian history, or a great story.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful.
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